City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Imperial Beach, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Imperial Beach - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

25,897
Residents
$79,071
Median income
$811,000
Median home
$3,001
Median rent (state)

Imperial Beach - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Imperial Beach places in the 61st percentile for household income and the 57th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

61st
percentile, household income
95th
percentile, home value
98th
percentile, median rent
57th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Imperial Beach, CA

Imperial Beach is a small city in California, home to 25,897 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $79,071 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.8%. Home values in Imperial Beach run a median of $811,000, and the median resident age is 35.2 years. About 23.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 78 residential building permits were authorized in Imperial Beach (Building Boom), up 333% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Imperial Beach reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1176.4 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $3,001 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Imperial Beach workers runs 25.0 minutes, with 71.6% driving alone and 9.4% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

25,897 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$79,071 /yr

Poverty 8.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Imperial Beach compare to other US cities?

Here's how Imperial Beach stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 61% higher than other cities
Home value 95% pricier than other cities
Median rent 98% pricier than other cities
Safety 57% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at California, Imperial Beach ranks #95 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Imperial Beach's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

61stIncome percentile
57thSafety percentile

61st percentile nationally for median household income · 57th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Imperial Beach's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Imperial Beach's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 41 Avg. percentile National median
Imperial Beach's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Imperial Beach's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$811,000 5th percentile more affordable than 5% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Imperial Beach $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Imperial Beach, CA Imperial Beach, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Imperial Beach, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Imperial Beach, CA median $79,071/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Imperial Beach, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Imperial Beach, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
25,897
Median Income
$79,071
Median Home Value
$811,000
Median Age
35.2
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Labor force participation
60.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1176.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
538.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
637.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
25,000 residents25,500 residents26,000 residents26,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 26,055 residents 25,206 residents ▼ -3.3%
Imperial Beach's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
78
housing units authorized
Single-Family
66
detached homes
Multifamily
12
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 18
2020 30
2021 38
2022 18
2023 59
2024 78

Permit volume increased 333% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.0 minutes
Drive Alone
71.6%
Carpool
9.5%
Public Transit
4.4%
Walk
3.5%
Work from Home
9.4%
Other
1.6%

Based on 13,328 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Imperial Beach sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,001/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

El Cerrito
25,781 people
North Tustin
26,038 people
Galt
25,665 people
Windsor
26,179 people
Wasco
26,222 people
Hercules
26,245 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Imperial Beach's 25,897 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Colleyville, TX
25,906 people
Moscow, ID
25,868 people
Ballenger Creek, MD
25,866 people
Fish Hawk, FL
25,945 people
Lodi, NJ
25,946 people
Terrytown, LA
25,844 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Imperial Beach's $79,071 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cumming, GA
$79,073 median income
Kachina, AZ
$79,085 median income
Wickliffe, OH
$79,052 median income
North Hornell, NY
$79,091 median income
Huntington, UT
$79,091 median income
Catalina, AZ
$79,092 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Imperial Beach, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Imperial Beach, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 48.9% 6.8% 13.5% 25.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 50.8% White 48.9% Black or African American 4.6% Asian 6.8% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 13.5% Two or more races 25.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Imperial Beach compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Imperial Beach (this city) 25,897 $79,071
El Cerrito 25,781 $127,475
North Tustin 26,038 $186,250
Galt 25,665 $86,327
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Imperial Beach, CA?

What is the population of Imperial Beach, CA? +

The population of Imperial Beach, CA stands at 25,897 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Imperial Beach, CA? +

Imperial Beach households earn a median of $79,071 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Imperial Beach? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Imperial Beach; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Imperial Beach, CA safe? +

Imperial Beach has a total crime rate of 1176.4 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Imperial Beach, CA? +

Homes in Imperial Beach carry a median value of $811,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.